Author: Austin Lynn
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Is Summer Really a Bad Time to Plant in Southern Arizona?
An expert opinion on the most controversial topic in Arizona landscaping. In Southern Arizona, we’re often asked the same question every summer: “Is it impossible—or just bad timing—to plant during peak heat?” My answer isn’t as simple as you might imagine. My name is Austin Lynn, owner of Garden Social AZ and Common Ground Landscape…
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Your Arizona Garden Is Dying And Summer Isn’t The Problem
– By Austin Lynn, Garden Social You’re doing it all wrong—or at least, you’re probably doing the same thing many Arizona gardeners do every summer: reacting instead of planning. When the heat tightens its grip, people panic, overwater, fry tender plants in the wrong exposure, or give up entirely until fall. If that sounds familiar,…
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Cooking Up Nitrogen in the Garden: Desert Trees That Help Your Landscape Thrive
Why Nitrogen Matters in the Garden Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients in a plant’s life. It helps plants make chlorophyll for photosynthesis, build proteins for new growth, and produce the green, healthy leaves gardeners want to see. When a plant has enough nitrogen, it usually looks fuller, greener, and more vigorous. When…
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Summer Prep: Desert-Proof Your Plants Before the Season Turns Up
A Garden Social guide to thriving through long days, intense sun, and Arizona’s famously stubborn soil. – By Austin Lynn, Owner Zone 9b gardeners don’t need a reminder that summer is hot—we live it. But the best summer gardens aren’t built in June. They’re built now, by setting up your soil and your watering patterns…
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The Unseen Enemy: Spider Mites and Desert Plant Health
How Arizona’s Unique Environment Heightens Pest Risks—and What You Can Do – Austin Lynn, Garden Social Owner and Landscape Horticulture Expert In desert regions like Maricopa and throughout Arizona, plants already live on the edge of environmental stress. Intense sun, low humidity, alkaline soils, and long stretches of heat push landscapes to their limits. When…
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Growing Winter Greens in Chilly Southern Arizona
Make the Most of Mild Winters for Bountiful Greens—and a Splash of Color Winter Gardening in Arizona For most gardeners throughout North America, winter marks the season to put away trowels and seed packets as gardens succumb to snow and freezing temperatures. In much of the continent, winter gardening means indoor seed starting at best,…
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The Prideful Gardener’s Downfall
Emphasizing Patience, Plant Selection, and Seasonal Strategy as we enter the Fall Growing Season. As summer wanes in Sonoran Arizona, anticipation flourishes among garden enthusiasts. The urge to fill our landscapes with new life, to introduce vibrant plants and experiment with fresh arrangements, grows stronger with each cooling day. But as visions of instant beauty…
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Sun Position and Its Impact on Gardening in Southern Arizona
Understanding Seasonal Sun Cycles for Healthier Desert Gardens The Sun’s Role in Southern Arizona Gardening Gardening in Arizona is a rewarding challenge, shaped by the intense and ever-changing sun. If you’ve ever wondered why your plants thrive in one season and struggle in another, the answer often lies above: in the sun’s seasonal patterns and…
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